Setting Up QuickBooks Pro for Construction

A step-by-step guide to getting this popular accounting software up and running

QuickBooks was originally developed
as a general, small-business
accounting package. It
was only after large numbers
of construction companies began using
the software that Intuit upgraded the
program to include basic job-costing features,
and called it QuickBooks Pro
(QBP). Setting up the software has
always required rudimentary understanding
of general accounting principles,
but setting up the latest release
(version 5) to take full advantage of jobcost
reporting can be frustrating, especially
for new users.
Part of the confusion stems from the
fact that QBP uses two very different
methods — one called Items, the other
Classes — to organize data for job-cost
reports.
Each method has its strengths and
weaknesses. Which method you choose
will depend on how much detail you
want to